Heritage Opera is a professional touring opera company, that specialises in bringing the timeless beauty of opera and operetta to historic venues and theatres across the UK.
Heritage Opera is a professional touring opera company, that specialises in bringing the timeless beauty of opera and operetta to historic venues and theatres across the UK.
Your Support Brings Opera to Places It Rarely Reaches.
Heritage Opera is a small, professional touring opera company with a big belief: that opera should not belong only to major cities or grand institutions.
We bring high-quality opera and operetta into historic venues, rural communities, and intimate theatres across the UK — places where live opera is rarely experienced, yet deeply appreciated when it arrives.
As a small charity, every donation makes a tangible difference. Your support helps us:
Pay professional singers, musicians and creatives fairly
Tour to historic and underserved venues
Keep ticket prices affordable and welcoming
Commission new works, and preserve rare repertoire and forgotten works
Create meaningful cultural experiences beyond major cities
Heritage Opera began in 2006 with a simple idea: bring beautiful, intimate opera experiences to stunning historic venues across the UK. Founded by conductor Chris Gill, we started with chamber operas performed in stately homes, often in places where live opera was rarely seen.
Over the years, we’ve grown with ambition. We’ve commissioned brand new operas like Mansfield Park and The Arsonists, and taken our productions to theatres and festivals across England, Scotland and Wales. From cosy drawing rooms to grand historic houses like Chatsworth and Hatfield, we make opera feel close, alive, and unforgettable.
Our repertoire spans everything from Mozart and Puccini to Gilbert & Sullivan—and even a UK première or two. Whether it’s your first opera or your hundredth, we’re here to make it special.
Heritage Opera is able to produce a wide range of inspirational workshops that can be tailored to fit the particular requirements and budget of any school. Workshop packages range from 2 singers and a musical director who present a whistle-stop tour of the history of opera, to an action-packed day of singing, dancing, acting and costume-making with a cast of 8 singers, including a fully staged professional performance in the evening.
We have a large number of productions in repertory and so it is possible to devise a workshop around other operas that may be especially relevant to a particular school or year group.
"The children were intrigued and delighted by what they were witnessing and then taking part in, and haven't stopped talking about it since."
Elevate your event with a professionally produced opera gala. Themed programmes, flexible cast, ready to perform in your venue across the UK. Contact us to plan the perfect addition to your event.
Book a ready-made opera gala for your venue. Choose from one of three different themes or let us put together a fantastic show just for you.
Italian Romance
A programme of romantic Italian opera favourites, including Puccini, Verdi and many more.
Magical Mozart
Celebrating the boy genius and his magical music, with excerpts from Don Giovanni, the marriage of figaro and others.
Only Operetta
Exploring the lighter side of opera, from the hits of Gilbert and Sullivan, to the beauty of Lehar and beyond.
Please use the contact form for enquiries about booking Heritage Opera.
On 5th January 2019, Nicholas suffered a brain aneurysm from which he is still recovering. He has now moved out of hospital into home-based care in Cheshire as he continues to recover. We at Heritage Opera wish our dearest friend and colleague a full recovery.
